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Barton Moss anti-fracking protesters lose legal appeal Barton Moss anti-fracking protesters lose legal appeal
(about 2 hours later)
Anti-fracking campaigners accused of trespass during protests in Salford have failed in a bid to have the charges against them thrown out.Anti-fracking campaigners accused of trespass during protests in Salford have failed in a bid to have the charges against them thrown out.
Protests began at Barton Moss in late 2013 when energy company IGas started test-drilling for shale gas.Protests began at Barton Moss in late 2013 when energy company IGas started test-drilling for shale gas.
Lawyers acting for 40 protesters argued the charges of obstruction and trespass should be dropped because IGas had "breached environmental legislation." Lawyers acting for 40 protesters argued the charges of obstruction and trespass should be dropped because IGas had "breached environmental legislation".
A judge at Manchester Magistrates' Court dismissed the application. But a judge at Manchester Magistrates' Court dismissed their application.
The prosecution said their was nothing to support the protesters' claim that they were justified in trying to prevent what they claimed was unlawful drilling. The prosecution said there was nothing to support the protesters' claim that they were justified in trying to prevent what they claimed was unlawful drilling.
District Judge James Prowse agreed, and said he could find no evidence to suggest any unlawful activity had been carried out by IGas.District Judge James Prowse agreed, and said he could find no evidence to suggest any unlawful activity had been carried out by IGas.
The judge rejected the claims that the test drilling had broken the law by polluting the land.
'Far too nebulous'
He said experts now agreed any land contamination was from its previous use as an industrial waste disposal site and any allegation the land was illegally contaminated by IGas was "far too nebulous".
The judge went on to say that any small-scale pollution caused by test-drilling construction was "incidental to the construction process" and "outside the scope" of any defence offered by the law.
The protesters' legal team will now take time to consider the judge's ruling in more detail.The protesters' legal team will now take time to consider the judge's ruling in more detail.
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking involves pumping a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas and oil.Hydraulic fracturing or fracking involves pumping a mixture of water and chemicals into shale rock at high pressure to extract gas and oil.
Environmental campaigners claim the process is untested, and encourages reliance on fossil fuels instead of promoting investment in renewable energy sources.Environmental campaigners claim the process is untested, and encourages reliance on fossil fuels instead of promoting investment in renewable energy sources.
The trial, in which the protesters deny all the charges against them, is scheduled to continue.The trial, in which the protesters deny all the charges against them, is scheduled to continue.